Combined dust-pan and sprinkler.



No. 687,927. Patented Dec. 3, I90].

0. ST. HILAIRE. COMBINED [JUST PAN'AND SPRINKLER.

(Application filed Feb. 23; 1901.)

2 Sheets-She|et I.

(No Model.)

' Ptented Dec. 3, 190i. v

C. ST. HILAIRE.

COMBINED DUST PAN AND SPRINKLER.

(Application filed Feb. 28, 1901.)

( No-Mo'del.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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COMBINED DUST-PAN AND SPRINKLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,927, dated December 3, 1901. Application filed February 23, 1901. Serial No. 48,530. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, OAMILLE Sr. HILAIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilson, in the county of Menominee and'State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Combined Dust Pan and Sprinkler, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined dustpan and sprinkler, the object in view being to provide a household device which may be alternately used for sprinkling the surface to be cleaned and gathering up the dust and litter after the floor or other surface has been sprinkled.

The invention also contemplates means for rendering the sprinkler inactive when the device is being used as a dust-pan. The dustpan is provided with a hinged cover, by which the dust, dirt, and litter may be retained in the pan when it is used as a sprinkler, and the cover is provided with a hollow or recessed finger-grip, which serves a double f unction-namely, to assist in raising the cover and also as a handle for holding the article when it is used as a sprinkler. \Vhen employed as a dust-pan, the rear portion of the pan is held in an elevated position by means of one or more casters, which give the required inclination to the pan, and in this way the pan may be operated without the necessity of the operator bending over to move the pan, from I place to place by hand.

With these and other objects in view theinvention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation ofa combined dust-pan and sprinkler, showing the same in the act of sprinkling the surface to be cleaned. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical section through the same extending longitudinally of the spray-nozzle and showing the means for controlling the water-supply. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the controlling-stopper in the position which it occupies when the device is being used as a dust-pan. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the dust-pan, showing the employment of twin casters. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken through the bearing of one of the casters. tudinal section through the forward portion of the pan, showing the finger-grip or handle. Fig. 7-is a detail plan View of the perforated end piece of the nozzle. Fig. 8 is a detail section similar to Fig. 5, showing the manner of mountinga single caster centrally of the back of the dust-pan.

Like numerals of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The combined dust-pan and sprinkler contemplated in this invention comprises, essentially, a bottom 1, a fixed top 2, and a rear end wall 3. The top wall 2 extends only part way of the length of the pan, where it meets an intermediate partition or division wall 4:, which constitutes the front wall of the water reservoir or tank 5, said tank or reservoir comprising the rear portion of the dust-pan proper, but being separated from the dust-receivin g portion of the pan by means of the intermediate wall or division-piece 4.. The rear wall 3 is preferably curved and formed in one piece with the sides 5 of the pan, the portions 5 forming the side walls of the reservoir 5, as well as the side walls of the dust-pan proper, said side walls tapering from the intermediate wall or partition lto the receiving or front edge of the pan, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The top of the pan is closed when the pan is not in operation by means of a lid or-cover 6, which is hinged at 7 adjacent to the upper edge of the intermediate or division wall 4, as shown in Fig. 1. The free edge of the cover 6 is turned downward to form .a flange 8, which meets the front edge of the bottom 1 and serves to retain within the pan any dust, dirt, or litter gathered up. The cover 6 is also provided adjacent to its free edge with a hollow or-recessed finger-grip 9, which is preferably in the form of a section of a hollow sphere, having an entrance or opening .for the fingers disposed toward the rear of the pan, so that the fingers may be engaged therein in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. The grip 9 enables the cover 6to be lifted and lowered and also constitutes a handle by means of which the device as a whole may be lifted and moved from place to place when the sprinkler is in use, as shown in Fig. 1.

The rear wall of the tank or reservoir 5 is provided with an opening 10, in which is re- Fig. 6 is a detail vertical longi more caster-wheels 20.

ceived one end of a tube 11, which forms the nozzle of the sprinkler, the inner end of the nozzle or tube being flanged, as shown at 12, and suitably secured to the inner surface of the end wall 3, said inner end of the nozzle being also preferably flared to a slight extent to facilitate the insertion and removal of a water-controlling device 13, which is preferably in the form of a stopper of cork or other light material which will have a tendency to rise to the surface of the water, so as to prevent the same from accidentally reseating itself in the inner end of the nozzle-tube and shutting off the flow of water therethrough. The outer end of the nozzle-tube 11 is covered by a hemispherical end piece 14, which is provided with a number of perforations 15 for the purpose of spraying the water as it escapes from the nozzle. It will be noted by reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 7 that the lower portion of the end piece 14 is left imperforate, as shown at 16, which is done in order to prevent any portion of the spray from wetting the clothes of the operator, said imperforate portion also serving to cause the surplus water to drain backward into the nozzle.

The stopper 13 has connected therewith an operating stem 17, which passes entirely through the nozzle-tube and has its outer end bent to form a handle 18. The stem 17 passes through an opening in the end piece 16, so that by pushing the handle 18 inward the stopper 13 is displaced from its seat in the inner end of the nozzle-tube, thereby admitting water to the nozzle. When it is desired to shut off the flow of water, the handle 18 is drawn outward until the stopper 13 becomes seated in the nozzle-tube. The stopper may be displaced by holding the device in a vertical position and pressing the handle portion 18 of the stem 17 against the floor. After the stopper is thus displaced it moves upward toward the surface of the water, and is thereby prevented from becoming accidentally reseated. The tank or reservoir 5 is provided with a filling-opening in the top, covered by a screw-cap 19 or other suitable sealing device.

When the device is used as a dust-pan, the rear portion thereof is supported upon one or In Fig. 4 I have illustrated two of such caster-wheels, the same being located equidistantly from the center of the pan and from the nozzle-tube 11. The shanks 21 of these caster-wheels are received in sleeve-bearings 22, fastened in any suitable manner to the rear wall of the pan, as shown in Fig. 5, and having bottom flanges 23, which underlie and are secured to the bottom of the pan. Instead of employing two caster-wheels, as shown in Fig. 4, a single caster-wheel may be utilized, as shown in Fig. 8, in which case the shank 21 will be provided with a head or collar 23 at its upper end, said collar being received in the rabbeted base 24 of a bearing-sleeve 25, secured to the bottom of the pan. The object of the caster wheel or wheels is to hold the rear end of the pan elevated, thereby giving the required inclination to the pan as the dirtand litter are swept therein.

The object in providing the hinged cover is to retain the dirt and litter within the pan and prevent the same from being subjected to any drafts or air-currents while moving to a convenient place for dumping the pan or while operating the sprinkler. Another advantage of the invention is that the handle performs a dual function and serves not only as a lifting device for the cover, but as a handie or grip by means of which the device as a whole may be held by the operator while sprinkling the surface to be cleaned.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the principle or sacrificing'any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A dust-pan having a transverse partition dividing the pan into two compartments, one of which serves as a water-receptacle and the other as a dust-receptacle, and a nozzle communicating with the water-receptacle 2. A dust-pan having a transverse partition dividing the pan into two compartments, one of which serves as a water-receptacle and the other as a dust-receptacle, a nozzle communicating with the water receptacle and a hinged cover for the dust-receptacle.

3. A dust-pan having aWater-compartment, a sprinkling-nozzle communicating therewith, a buoyant stopper fitted to the inner end of the nozzle, and an operating-stem connected with saidstopper.

4. A dust-pan having a water-compartment, a sprinkling-nozzle communicating therewith, a stopper fitted to the inner end of the nozzle, and astopper-operating stem passing through the nozzle and through an opening in the end piece thereof, said stem being provided with an eXteriorly-arranged handle portion.

5. The combination with a dust-pan having a sprinkling attachment; of a hinged lid or cover, and a hollow or recessed finger-grip located adjacent to the free end of said lid or cover.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CAMILLE ST. HILAIRE.

Witnesses:

RALPH PRINCE, GEo. C. PRINCE. 

